Equihope

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
882018535
IRS 990 coverage
2024–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024, Form 990-EZ 2023, Form 990-N 2022
Location
Pilot Point, TX, USA
Phone
9723829096
Rating
80
Verdict
STRONG
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Health Support Services

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$258,851
Expenses
$261,416
Assets
$22,843
Liabilities
$127,453

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

Leadership & pay

3 people listed

Executive titles in this filing

  • KENT BILITER (PRESIDENT)
  • MARGE NICHOLSON (VICE PRESIDENT)

Highest reported compensation

  • JENNIFER MATHIS (OFFICER): $66,652 total reported compensation

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.

Overview

Mission

Equihope's mission is serving the dallas-fort worth metroplex through equine therapeutics while teaching good horsemanship in a safe environment. Our vision is to be a leading institution in equine therapy while providing world class experiences and exceptional value to our clients and benefactors.

What it reported doing in 2024

Founded in 2022 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, equihope provides equine-assisted services to individuals with special needs and disabilities in a safe, supportive, and structured environment. Our mission is to harness the transformative power of therapeutic horsemanship to improve physical, emotional, and cognitive outcomes for riders of all ages.using internationally recognized horsemanship challenges and evidence-based practices, our curriculum is designed to build strength, coordination, speech, planning, and social-emotional skillsall while boosting confidence, independence, and leadership.our team is certified by the professional association of therapeutic horsemanship (path international) and brings a wealth of experience in education, applied behavior analysis (aba), and child development. This allows us to meet the diverse needs of our clients, from early childhood through senior adulthood.riders participate in weekly or bi-weekly sessions with a consistent instructor and support team. Each session includes goal-oriented activities tailored to meet the unique physical and cognitive needs of each participant.in 2024, equihope has expanded its reach by 30%, now serving more clients than ever across denton, collin, dallas, and tarrant counties. Our riders, ages 4 to 60, represent a wide range of diagnoses, including autism, adhd, ptsd, cerebral palsy, and eating disorders.we proudly collaborate with corporate, civic, and educational groups who volunteer at our facility for both special events and day-to-day program needs. These partnershipsalong with grants, donations, and fundraising effortsmake it possible for us to offer scholarship support to families facing financial hardship.in 2024, equihope delivered nearly 2,600 equine experiencesand with our continued growth in 2024, that number continues to climb as we deepen our commitment to creating lasting, life-changing impact through equine therapy.

Operating model

Revenue model
Earned-program. 68% of the money available for current operations came from fees and other program revenue.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.

The verdict

STRONG - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. Some filing-based governance responses are negative or unanswered and assets have declined or grown slowly.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 88
  • Transparency & Controls: 92
  • Accountability: 69
  • Sustainability: 20
  • Growth: 40

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 98.9%; rating input score 99
  • Program expense ratio: 100%; rating input score 100
  • Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: Limited
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 2 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 25
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Fail
    • Whistleblower policy: Fail
    • Document-retention policy: Fail
    • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Missing
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: -1%; rating input score 36; 36th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.09; rating input score 6; 6th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 5.58; rating input score 1; 1st percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 25.5%; rating input score 14; 14th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: Limited
  • Revenue growth: 35.4% per year; rating input score 100; 95th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: -16.5% per year; rating input score 0; 4th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 98.9% of revenue deployed · 100% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 3 of 3 board members independent · 2 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $261K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $67K · 3 people listed
  • Consistency: 16 of 16 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 5 filed schedules · includes major donors
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 2 filed money-flow records
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • High — Accountability: Governance controls: 5 of 7 not reported.
  • High — Growth: Asset growth scored 0/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 36/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 6/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 1/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 14/100.